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Summary: Interview with 'House' writer Ethan Wiley
Comment: I run a movie nostalgia site called 'Natsukashi,' in which we take a film that we have seen in our youth and have not viewed since, rewatch it through the eyes of an adult and then podcast the results. One contributor selected 'House,' and we were fortunate enough to be joined by 'House' writer and 'House 2' director Ethan Wiley for the podcast.
He was very open, fun and had a lot to say about both films, as well as many interesting nuggets of information about his earlier industry work at ILM (George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic), and Joe Dante's 'Gremlins.'
The entire interview I kept thinking that it would make a great DVD commentary, so if you wish to hear it, here's the link: http://natsukashi.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/episode-xxxv-house-with-its-writer-ethan-wiley/).
Enjoy!
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Summary: Wow...This movie sucks!
Comment: Once in a while you stumble upon that horror movie that's just so unspeakably bad that it ends up being good. This was not one of those times. In all honesty, I wanted to like House, I really did. I remembered seeing this movie when I was a young kid, so I figured if nothing else, I'd appreciate it for its nostalgic value. In the end however, it was a true struggle to find even a hint of redeeming value to House.
Here we meet a famous author, Roger Cobb, who decides to move into his recently deceased Aunt's house to begin writing his personal memoirs of the Vietnam war. Ironically, this was the same house that his son mysteriously disappeared in, although it is unspecified how long ago those events took place. As he tries to get work done on his book, strange happenings begin ocurring in the house. These include household items coming to life, monsters and ghosts appearing, etc. When Roger decides to find out what happened to his son, he finds that what is taking place may be tied to is own past with the war. It all comes together in what is possibly the worst, and most non-sensical ending I've ever seen in a movie.
What a mess this movie is. Is it a monster movie? A ghost story? A haunted house movie? A horror movie? A comedy? It tries to be all of these, and it accomplishes the mind-boggling feat of failing at all of them. Bottom-of-the-barrel special effects, random flashback sequences scattered aimlessly, no gore or scares to be spoken of...What were they thinking when they made this? Even the music score by the usually phenomenol Harry Manfredini is bland and stereotypical. I apologize to any fans I may have offended, but this was just crap. I can understand how it can be viewed positively with some nostalgic value, but to call it "classic" is just stretching it. Otherwise, you may be able to get a laugh or two out of this one just for how bad it is.
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Summary: Very good!
Comment: I must say, i really love this movie. It has something that makes me see it all over again. The acting is so good, mostly from William Katt but i also think Kay Lenz is great (not to mention her true beauty)
Give it a chance! You'll like it!
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Summary: Give It a Chance
Comment: Well, I can't quite call this essential Horror or Halloween material. but that said, it is an interesting horror movie.
It starts quite normal and plausible. William Katt (a writer) is trying to tie up some loose ends. He goes to sell his aunt's house carrying the sorrow that his aunt killed herself. (So he has to go through some painful moments of walking through the house.)
However, he decides he has some unfinished business and decides to hold off on the selling. (At least for the moment) We are also permitted sympathy for him in that he has lost his son, and that he is separated from his wife. But his wife and he are still on speaking terms, and somehow he get the impression that they may get back together. An especially comical moment is when he is talking to her on the telephone and he turns up the stereo to make it sound like he his having a party.
There are some overdone moments, but the story is interesting enough so that we are inclined to forgive that. While trying to resolve the matters of his missing son, he is having flashbacks of his experiences in Vietnam, while he is trying to think of ideas for his new book. (The writer of this may have been familiar with the stream of consciousness technique of writing.) There is also a scene that alludes to Edgar Allen Poe's "Tell Tale Heart."
George Wendt is an interesting character. He offers some badly needed comic relief; in addition, he may appear to be out of it, but he does offer worthwhile help sometimes. In a light hearted moment, Katt gets a chance at romance.
In this story of horror, mystery, and suspense, we have some well placed laughs, and even an interesting soundtrack. The climax interestingly links the past to the present, and we have an ending that resolves a number of issues. While I can not quite call it essential horror, it is certainly good. At least give it a chance.
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Summary: An underrated 80's horror classic!
Comment: Roger Cobb (William Katt) is a popular horror novelist whom just moved into his recently deceased aunt's house. He was a former vietnam vet whom has struggled through divorce with his wife Sandy (Kay Lantz), the mysterious disappearence of his son and of course his aunt's recent suicide death for now he writes a new book on his experience in Nam. Unfortunately what maybe a perfect dream house turns into a nightmare house when his memories of vietnam is triggered when evil spirits and demons from another dimension start to threaten him as the house is haunted as now he must question his sanity or prove it's all real.
Smart, exciting, HP Lovecraft-esque and imaginative supernatural horror comedy shocker from Steve Miner and Sean S. Cunningham who brought you "Friday The 13th" is one of the most original and underrated haunted house movies ever. The film co-stars George Wendt and Richard Moll, this movie became a fiancal success for New World Pictures and got some decent reviews plus a cult following. The film is scary and funny at the same time while delivering excellent special effects and creature effects for their time, there's even a little gore in this movie. This movie has always been a personal favorite of mine and a must see.
This DVD contains great extras like audio commentary, a 12 minute making of featurtte, Trailers, and still gallery with great picture and sound.
Also recommended: "The Shining", "1408", "House By The Cemetery", "Poltergeist", "Evil Dead 2", "An American Werewolf in London", "Pet Semetary", "The Others", "Re-Animator", "Demons", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Jacob's Ladder", "Silent Hill", "Phantasm", "The Amityville Horror (1979 and 2005)", "Beetlejuice", "Making Contact (a.k.a. Joey)", "The People Under The Stairs", "City of the Living Dead", "Monster House", "A Nightmare on Elm Street Series", "Hellraiser 1 & 2", "The Gate", "Mirrors (2008)", "The Skeleton Key", "The Ring (2002 and 1998 versions)", "Evil Dead", "The Orphanage", "The Exorcist", "Final Destination Series", "The Haunting (1963 and 1999)", "House on Haunted Hill (1958 and 1999)", "The Sentinel (1977)", "13 Ghosts (1960 and 2001)", "Needful Things", "The Devil's Rejects", "In The Mouth of Madness", "The House That Dripped Blood", "House II: The Second Story", "The Stendhal Syndrome", "Suspiria", "Cemetery Man", "Inferno (1980)", "The Legend of Hell House", "The Fog (1980)", "The Pit", "Ghostbusters 1 & 2", "Ghost Story", "Prince of Darkness", "The Changeling" and "The Beyond".
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